Machine for forming concrete blocks.



H. A. WILCOX.

MACHINE FOR FORMING CONCRETE BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3. 1913.

A l,l73,1'35. Patented Feb. 22,1916.

'6 SHEETS-SHE`ET I.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH Co.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

H. A. WILCOX.

MACHINE FOR FORIVIING CONCRETE BLOCKS.

4APPLICATION FILED APR. B. 1913.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0.. WASHINGTON, D. C.

H. A. WILCOX. MACHINE FOR FoRMfNG CONCRETE BLOCKS.

Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

` s SHEETS-SHEET a.

APPLICATION FILED APFLH, 1913.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON, n. C. Y

H. A. WILCOX.

MACHINE Eon FORMING CONCRETE BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8. |913.

1,173,135. Patented Feb. 22,1916.

6 snEETs-sHEET 4.

frz/617507@ me COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON n rV H. A. WILCOX.

MACHINE FOR FORMING CONCRETE BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8. 1913. l,?3,135. l Patented Feb. 22,1916.

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Ey. 20 fie i7 Il] 25* faz 96 55 26 9 154 195' Ill 75 THB COLUMBIA PLANOBRAPH C0., WASHINGTON, D. c.

H. A. WILCOX.

u MACHINE FOR FORMING CONCRETE BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8 1913.

1,1%,1 35. Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET E.

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W/nesses. fUeW/fm? n @fw/ /lQfWU/V Afl/776056.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH n., WASHINGTON, D. Q.

UNTFE STATES PATENT @Flilliflllit HEMAN A. WILCOX, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

MACHINE FOR FORMING CONCRETE BLOCKS.

Application filed April 8. 1913.

To all 'Lv/'tom t may concern Be it known that 1, HEMAN A. VILCOX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Forming Concrete Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for forming concrete blocks under pressure, and has for its object to provide a machine for the purpose c-f the type disclosed in my application, Serial Number 717,219, filed August 26, 1912, in which the operations of raising and lowering the block-receiving platform, clamping the pallet and discharging the block from the form, shall be effected automatically and in timed relation, said means being set into operation by the movement of the form at the time that the same is turned over into discharging position.

It is a further object of my invention to provide controllable means for automatically locking the pallet upon the form after the same has been lled, which means comprise a part of the mechanism by which the same is unlocked automatically as above noted.

llt is a further object of my invention to provide means for positively engaging a form and moving the same to loosen and eject the block.

1t is a further object of my invention to provide a novel and eflicient organization of parts for carrying out the complete objects and functions of my machine.

rEhe full objects and advantages of my invention will appear in connection with the detailed description thereof and are particularly pointed out in the claims.

ln the drawings, illustrating the application of my invention in one form,-Figure l is a plan view of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 3 is a side elevation viewed from the opposite side from that of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional eleva tio-n taken on line 1 -1 of Fig. 1 when some of the parts have been operated so as to be in a different position from that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an end view of the machine partly in section. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of a part of the device for automati cally throwing the clamps into open posi- Speecation of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 191.6.

Serial No. 759,681.

tion. Fig. 7 is a sectional detail showing a portion of the mechanism for throwing in the clutch which sets in operation the discharge mechanism. Fig. 8 is an enlarged v iew of one of the clamps in clamping position. Figs'. 9, 10, 11 and 12 are detail views showing the manner of tripping the clutchshifting mechanism by the rotation of the mold box. Y

My machine comprises base members and 16, preferably formed of steel channels or T-beams and rounded off at the front and rear to permit the same being drawn over a floor or the ground. The base members 15 and 16 are secured together by crossbars 17 a sufficient number of said crossbars being provided to form a substantial and rigid base frame. Upon the base members 15 and 16 is secured a pair of upright castings 18 and 19, said castings being held together by top bar 20 and suitable tie rods 21. Forward of the castings 18 and 19 is another pair of uprights 22 and 23 which may be integrally cast together by means of transverse webs 24. As clearly shown, the pair of uprights 22 and 23 are of less height than the uprights 18 and 19. Secured to the top of uprights 22 and 23, and to the sides of uprights 1S and 19, are a pair of guide plates 25 and 26 held parallel with and properly spaced from the base members 15 and 16, said guide plates extending farther forward than the base members 15 and 16.

A heavy casting 27 is bolted to the central portions of the transverse frame members 17, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 1, the casting 27 being formed with a chambered portion 28. A cap piece comprising two portions 29 and 30 are bolted to the casting 27 and to one another, forming an eXtension of and closure to the chamber 28, and in the upper portion thereof a bearing 31 for a tubular, longitudinal shaft 32, as best shown in Fig. 4. A short shaft 33 has bearings in upright brackets 34 and 35 secured to the rear end of casting 27 in spaced relation, and between said bearings on shaft 63 is a fly-wheel 36 also secured to the shaft 33, and inside of bearing bracket is a pulley 37 formed with an interior clutch face 38. Secured to shaft 33 and extending through the center of shaft 32 is a shaft 39, said shaft having splined to the end thereof a clutch member 10.

From the `above it will be seen that by lso means of a belt 41, pulley 37 with the clutch face 38 thereon, shaft 33, fly-wheel 36, shaft 39, and clutch member 40, will be constantly driven. Shaft 32 has thereon a worm 42 meshing with a worm wheel 43, said worm 42 and worm wheel 43 being housed within the chamber 28 formed by casting 27 and cap pieces 29 and 30. The worm wheel 43 is fast on a shaft 44 journaled in casting 27, and also in bearings 45 and 46 formed on upright castings 18 and 19, respectively. The shaft 44 has thereon at each side of casting 27 eccentrics 47 and 48, which through eccentric rods 49 are adapted to operate a toggle system 50 such as described in my said co-pending application. A clutch member 51 is splined to shaft 32 and is controlled by a clutch lever 52 pivotally connected below the fork 53 thereof as indicated at 54. Said clutch lever 52 is connected by a link 55 with an arm 56 on a shaft 57 journaled transversely in extensions of uprights 18 and 19. The shaft 57 has on one end thereof an arm 58 to which is pivotally connected a rod 59, which passes through a web portion of upright 19. A spiral spring 61 surrounding rod 59 and positioned between web 60 and" a collar 62 on rod 59 normally forces rod 59 and arm 58 in a direction to draw link 55 and clutch lever 52 so as to hold clutch member 51 out of engagement with clutch face 38, a nut or head 63 on the end of rod 59 limiting movement of the rod 59 under the action of the spring 61. The shaft 57 is extended to the operative side of the machine, and has thereon a handle 64 by means of which the same may be operated to bring clutch member 51 into engagement with clutch face 38. When this is done the shaft 32, which, although in alinement with shaft 33, is connected therewith only through the clutch face 51. will be rotated, and through worm 42 and worm wheel 43 will drive shaft 44 and operate toggle system 50 to effect the desired compression of the blocks.

While the clutching-in may properly be effected manually, it is desirable that the parts be unclutched automatically so as always to stop them at the right point. For this purpose, an arm 65 is fast on shaft 57 and is connected with a rod 66 formed with a turn-buckle 67 for adjusting the length thereof, the lower part of said rod extending through a strap 68 and having a notch 69 adapted to engage the top of said strap, the rod being pressed to cause said notch to make such engagement by a strap spring 70. The handle 64 is loose on shaft 57, but upon being swung upwardly will engage a lug 71 adjustably held on said shaft by means of a set screw 72 so that the shaft may be operated by the handle 64 to cause clutching-in, when the notch 69 on rod 66 will engage the top of strap 68 and hold the parts in that position. The unclutching is effected automatically by the means shown and described in my said co-pending application, and which, forming no part of the present invention, are not shown herein.

In the machine of the aforesaid application, withdrawing the block from the form after compression thereof is performed manually, and requires the services and constant attention of one or more operators. Not only this, but the labor involved in raising and lowering the pallet-receiving platform by hand is very great and in practice it was found difficult for one man to accomplish this work, so that it is practically necessary to have two operators for taking care of the blocks. I have, therefore, provided means whereby the discharging of the blocks is rendered wholly automatic and is correlated in its operation to the'pressing means. This pressing means comprises the block 73 adapted to slide upon the side bars 25 and 26 and being operated by toggle system 50 above referred to, which engages the' exposed pusher portion 74 within the form box 75 in which the blocks are compressed. The compression is effected by' causing the pallet 76, by which the box 75 is closed, to engage a buffer block 77 held in sliding position upon and between the side bars 25 and 26 bv means of powerful compression springs 78 extending between said buffer block and a. head block 79. The tension of the springs between said buffer and head block is adjusted by means of bolts 80. The head block 79 is also slidable upon side bars 25 and 26, and the position of the head block, and. consequently of the active face of the buffer 77, is adjusted by means of wedges 81 which engage in grooves at the ends of head block 79 and behind flanges 82 on the ends of side bars 25 and 26, bolts 83 extending through slots 84 in the said side bars 25 and 26 securing the head block 79 in fixed position. The box 75 has at the centers of the ends circular sockets which have a bearing for circular' bosses 85 formed inwardly upon blocks 86 and 87` having a sliding bearing upon the top edges of side bars 25 and 26. At the right of box 75, as viewed from the front, a bar 88 extends through a slot 89 in side bar 25, said bar 88 being turned upwardly into a handle' 90 by means of which the box 75 may be rotated upon the bearings formed on circular bosses 85, the slot 89 permitting the bar 88 to slide with the box 75 during compression.

As best shown in Fig. 5, a hand operative lever 91 is pivoted at 92 to a portion of sliding piece 86 and has a catch 93 adapted to engage within a notch 94 formed in the end of box 75 to hold the box in proper position for compressing action. A spring 95 surrounding bar 88 engages a keeper 96 attached to lever 91 and operates to hold the lever in position to cause the catch to engage within the notch. It is to be noted that the sliding blocks 86 and 87 have secured thereto bolts 97 extending freely through ears on the pusher block 73, so that when the pusher block is returned it will pull the blocks back, and with it the box 75, to the proper position for turning, stops 98 preventing the parts coming back too far. The pallet 76 is held upon'the top of the box 75 by a. system of clamps which are adapted to be simultaneously operated by a foot lever device to be brought into closing position, and which are automatically unlocked at the time that the formed block is discharged from the mold box. The system of clamps are best shown in Figs. 1, 11, 5, 8 and 9. The clamps on each side are identical, and, therefore, in general the same reference numerals will be employed for similar parts on each side of the box. Mounted in sets of bearings formed by lugs 99 and 100 on each of the sides of the box are a pair' of shafts 101, respectively, having on the ends thereof, extending inwardly and outside of the plane of the end of the box, cam-like arm portions 103, as best shown in Fig. 5. Each of the shafts 101 is provided beyond the bearing formed in lug with an arm 105 pivotally connected to a link 106. The link 106, as best shown in Fig, 1, is rigidly secured at its other end to a crossbar 107. To lugs 108 and 109, on each of the sides of box 75, are pivoted identical arc-shaped members 110. Pivoted to these arc-shaped members and to the crossbars 107, are links 111 provided with clamping hooks 112. One or more springs 113, in the present instance two, extend between the crossbars 107 and thersides of the box. A reference to Figs. 8 and 9 will illustrate the operation of these springs. As shown in Fig. 8, with the clamps open the springs are pulling back upon the crossbar 107 and hold the arc-shaped members in engagement with projections 115, in which position the cam portions 103 are turned inwardly and upwardly, as best shown in Fig. 3, where they are, in engagement with the oppositely-turned arms or prongs 116 and 117, mounted to slide upon rods 118 and 119, which arms are connected together and pivotally connected with a rod 120 which has the bottom spindle 121 thereof mounted to slide through an aperture in a plate 122 secured to the side of bottom member 15, a spring 123 between said plate 122 and a collar 12-'.- on the rod 120 acting to hold the rod and the members 117 and 118 in their most elevated position. A rock shaft 125 is held in bearings in the frame and has fast thereon a foot lever 126 and an arm 127 pivotally. connected by means of link 128 with the rod 120, the foot lever 126, being on the operative side of the frame, as

shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. *When the foot lever 126 is depressed the arm 127 on the rock shaft 125 is moved in the same direction, acting through link 128 to draw down rod 120 against the force of spring 123, causing members 116 and 117 to pull downwardly upon cam pieces 103 and 104.-, which has the result of rocking shafts 101 and 102 and, through rods 106, forcing the crossbars 107 outwardly so as to rock the arc-shaped members 110 upon their pivots and extend the springs 113, at the same time bringing clamps 112 above the outer edge of pallet 76. This movement will carry the point of connectien of the spring with the rod 16 from a position in which it pulls downwardly from the pivot point of arc pieces 110 until, as shown in Fig'. 9, the springs draw so as to swing the pieces in the opposite direction, which will cause them to snap the clamps 12 firmly in position upon the pallet 76. The springs will hold these clamps very firmly by reason of the fact that the springs are, as shown in Fig. 9, much distended by this action.

A reference to Figs. 8 and 9 will show that when, the rock shafts101 and 102 are moved by the foot lever 126 so that through the links 106 the springs 113 are brought into position to place the clamps 112 in position to hold the pallet, the cam pieces 103 and 104 will be moved from their inwardly turned position, as indicated in Fig. 8, to a relatively outwardly extended position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 9. Then the mold box is inverted so as to turn the pallet 76 directly down, the rock shafts 101 and 102 will be at the top of the box, as indicated in Figs. -l and 6, and with the clamps in closed position the cam members 103 and 104. will be extended upwardly and outwardly so as to come into the path of an engaging toe 129 fast on a rock shaft 130 journaled in brackets on the side of the frame piece 26. thereon an arm 131 provided with a weight 132, said arm being in the path of a cam arm 133 secured to the crank arm 134: fast on thc end of a shaft 135 journaled transversely across the machine to extensions on standards 18 and 19. When the shaft 135 is driven by means hereinafter described and thereby effects various functions through parts connected therewith, the cam arm 133 is carried around with said shaft and at the proper point in the cycle of voperations effected by the shaft engages the arm 131 thereby rocking the shaft and the toe extensions 129, which extensions engage above the cam members 103 and 104, as indicated in Figs. 6 and 9, thereby rocking extensions forwardly and inwardly so as to swing the arms 105 until the point of. pivotal connection 136 thereof with the links 106 is brought past the line of centers through the The shaft 130 has fast 'f shaft 101, said pivotal point 136 and the pivotal point 137 where the piece 111 is joined to the crossbars 107. At this point the extended springs 113 will be free to rotate the entire apparatus and swing the parts into the position shown in Fig. 8 in which the pallet 76 is fully released and ready for the discharging action effected through other parts operated by the shaft 135.

The crank arm 134 has pivotally connected therewith a link or pitman 139 made extensible by a turn buckle 140, as clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. The other end of the link 139 is pivotally connected at 141 with an arm 142 fast on a rock shaft 143 journaled across the frame of the machine in the standards 22 and 23. As best shown in Fig. 5, the rock shaft 143 has fast thereon a pair of arms 144 and 145, which arms are pivotally connected to links 146 and 147, said links in turn being secured to a shaft 148 which has its ends journaled in brackets 149 and 150, said brackets being mounted to slide upon standards 151 and 152. Secured to the bracket members 149 and 150 is a platform for receiving thevpallet and the formed 'block from the mold box 75. It will be noted that as the shaft 135 is rotated the crank arm 134 will be given a revolution which through the link or pitman 139 will have the effect of rocking shaft 143 and thus through arms 144 and 145 and links 146 and 147 move or slide the platform 153 upwardly into position to receive the pallet and block thereon, as shown in Fig. 4, thereafter returning the platform 153 to its lowered position. rllhe platform 153 will reach its elevated position at exactly the moment that the cam arm 133 operates the rock shaft 130 and through the lingers 129 effects the opening of the clamps 112 to release the pallet and block.

At the same moment a series of pusher lingers 154 are caused to engage the upper portion of the movable form within the mold box thereby positively sliding said form so as to cause the same to loosen and free the block, the block then descending with the pallet upon the platform 153, and descending with the platform 153 into lowered position where the block may conveniently be removed to a truck or other receiving device. The pusher members 154, as best shown in Fig. 5, are adjustably disposed upon a transverse shaft 155 carried by a pair of carrier bars 156 mounted to slide in fulcrum supports 157 pivotally connected at 158 to extensions of upright castings 18 and 19, respectively. rl`he rear ends of the carrier bars 156 are pivotally connected to a transverse shaft or rod 159, and secured to the rod 159 is a pair of arms 160. The arms 160 extend freely through apertures formed in the top and bottom'cross pieces of yoke devices 161, which yoke devices are integral parts of levers 162 pivoted at 163 to links 164 which in turn are pivotally connected at 165 to the standards 18 and 19. The levers 162 have integrally connected therewith offsetcam arms 166 between which and the faces of the levers 162 are positioned cams 167 fast on shaft 135. The arms 160 are secured from movement in one direction by nuts 168 and spiral springs 169 surrounding the arms 160 within the yoke portions 161 and engaging a collar 170 on arms 160 permitting yielding relative movement of arms 160 within yoke portions 161 in the opposite direction. Between the levers 162 and the offset portions 166 extend connecting arms 17 2 having thereon cam extensions 173, which cam eX- tensions are in the path of cam rollers 174 carried by the cam members 167. As the cams 167 are caused to rotate by the shaft 135 they will through engagement with the adjacent faces of levers 162 and offset portions 166 cause said levers 162 and the parts carried thereby to oscillate about the pivot points 163. This will have the effect of sliding the carrier bars 156 through the fulcrum pieces 157 and moving them forwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 4. Meantime the roller 174 will have been brought into engagement with the lower side of the connecting bar 172 and at the moment that the pusher-s 154 are brought above the mold box the rollers 174 will pass up the cam extension 173 giving the levers 162 a sudden quick lift which has the effect of sharply oscillating the carrier bars 156 on the pivots 158 and giving a quick downward thrust to the pushers 154, thus resulting in moving the form within the i mold box and causing positive discharge of the formed block. rlhe spring 169 is made sufficiently strong so that the proper discharging effect is by this means obtained, and yet, if, for any reason the form within the mold box should become jammed or locked into position, the spring 169 will permit suliicient yielding to prevent breakage. The pushers 154 are adjustably secured upon the rod 155 and may be adjusted for operation upon any. kind of form within the mold boX.

The shaft 135, the rotation of which operates the means for positioning the platform 153, the means for unlocking the clamps 112 and the pushers 154, is intermittently caused to operate by the inverting of the mold box 75 by the following means. Upon the shaft 135 is a worin wheel 175 which meshes with a worm 176 on a sleeve 177 surrounding the shaft 34. rlhe sleeve 177 has secured thereto a clutch face 178 which is complement-al to the clutch face 40 splined to the shaft 34. The clutch face 40, vas already pointed out, is constantly driven,

and whenever the clutch face 10 is moved into operative engagement with the clutch face 178 the sleeve 177 and worm 176 will be rotated with shaft 31, which through worm wheel 175 will rotate shaft 135. A clutch shifting lever 17 9 is pivotally connected at 180 to a bracket extension 181 so as to oscillate in a horizontal plane and has a fork portion 182 engageable with the hub of the clutch face 10 in the usual way. The clutch lever 179 has extending through the saine a bolt 183 secured to upright 18, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The bolt 183 has fast thereon a collar 181 and between the collar 181 and the adjacent side of lever 179 is a compression spring 185, which spring normally operates to force the lever 179 in a direction to bring the clutch face 10 into operative engagement with clutch face 178. An arm 186 is pivotally secured to a stud 187 which projects outwardly from the frame piece 25. The lower end of arm 186 has adjustably secured therein a bolt 188, the free end of which enters a clutch 189 in the extended end of lever 179, as best shown in Fig. 2. The arm 186 has integrally connected therewith and angularly disposed thereto another arm 190 which arm is held in engagement with a sliding cam ring 191 splined to the shaft 135 and having thereon a cam projection 192, as best shown in Fig. 2. The cam ring 191 is normally held in its inner position by means of a spring 193 surrounding the extended end of shaft 135 and positioned between a collar 191 on said shaft and the outer face of cam ring 191. In this position the cam projection 192 will engage the adjacent face of arm 190 and will rock said arm and the arm 186 connected therewith so as to push the clutch lever 179 against the force of spring 185 and hold clutch face 10 out of operative engagement with clutch face 178. When, however, the cam ring 191 is slid along shaft 135 against the pressure of spring 193 the projection 192 will be carried within engagement with the face of arm 190. Spring 185 is then free to actuate lever 179 and throw clutch face 10 into operative engagement with clutch face 178.

The means for sliding the cam ring 191 on shaft 135 is operated either automati cally upon the inverting of mold box 75 or manually, as desired, through a rock shaft 195 which is journaled longitudinally of the frame in the standards 18 and 22. .1s best shown in Fig. 7, the rock shaft 195 has thereon a finger 196 which enters an aperture 197 in a clutch slide 198 having a fork 199 engaging the slidable cam ring 191. 1t will. be apparent, therefore, that when shaft 195 is rocked the finger 196 will operate the clutch slide 198 and through forli 199 will push the cam ring 191 outwardly against the pressure of spring 193 so as to permit the arm 190 to drop from the cam projection 192. The rocking of shaft 195 may be effected by a hand lever 200 secured to shaft 195. lt is, however, desirable to effect the rocking of shaft 195 automatically at the moment when the mold box 75 is turned into discharging position. This is accomplished by the means shown in Figs. 1, 5, 10, 11 and 12. The shaft 195 has adjustably secured on the end thereof away from the end which carries the finger 196 a short arm 201, which arm, when the parts are in the normal inner position effected by the pressure of spring 193, comes nearly into the path of a cam projection 202 on the end of mold box 75. Pivotally carried within the longitudinal slot 203 in the arm 201 is a latch 201, said latch being normally held in alinement with arm 201 by a leaf spring 205. As the end of the mold box 75 rotates, the square face 206 of the cam projection 202 will engage the latch 201, as best shown in Figs. 10 and 12, the cam projection moving at such time in the direction indicated by the arrows. The latch 201 will be engaged along the side thereof by the cam face 206 which will thereby lift said latch as the box comes into discharging position and at the same time will lift the arm 201 and through same the rock shaft 195 in a direction to move toe 196 outwardlv and actuate the shifter slide 198. This will release clutch lever 179 and permit the same to clutch-in the shaft 135. The rotating of mold box 75 is effected by means of the arm 90, as previously described, and the box is locked in position through operation of the lever 91 and catch 93, the latch 201 having passed off of the face 206 just before box 75 reaches final discharging position. This of course permits the spring 193 to return the cam ring 191 to its normal position in which the cam pro ection 192 comes into alinement with arm 190, the rock shaft 195 and parts carried thereby being simultaneously returned to initial position. Vhen the shaft 135 has completed its operative revolution the cam projection 192 will again engage the arm 190 and operate the clutch lever 179 to cause unclutching of shaft 35 from its drive. 1n returning the mold box 75 to its upright or receiving position it is necessary for the cam projection 202 to be passed over the latch 201, and the construction described in which the latch is held in position by the spring 205 readily permits this, as shown in Fig. 11.

I claim:

1. A concrete machine comprising a mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a platform for receiving the blocks, manually controlled means for moving the box into discharging position, and

means set in operation by said movement of the box for positioning the platform to receive the block.

2. A concrete machine comprising a mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a platform for receiving the blocks, manually controlled means for moving the box into discharging position, and means set in operation by the movement of the box for positively ejecting the block from the box.

3. A concrete machine comprising a mold box and means for compressing concrete bloclrs therein, a platform for receiving the blocks, intermittently operative mechanism for moving the platform into position to receive the block, means for moving the box by hand into discharging position, and means rendered operative by the moving of the box to cause the operation of the platform-positioning means.

A. A concrete machine comprising a mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a platform for receiving the blocks, means for positively ejecting the block upon the platform, intermittently operative mechanisms for simultaneously actuating the ejecting means andmoving the platform into position to' receive the block, means for moving the box into discharging position by hand, and means rendered operative by moving of the box to cause the operation of the platform-positioning and bloclr-ejecting mechanisms.

5. A concrete machine comprising a mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a platform below the box and spaced therefrom for receiving the blocks, manually controlled means for turning the box into inverted position for discharge upon the platform, and means set in operation by said movement of the box for causing the platform to rise into position to receive the block and thereafter to descend.

6. A concrete machine comprising a. mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a platform below the box and spaced therefrom for receiving the blocks, manually controlled means for turning the box into inverted position for discharge upon the platform, and means set in operation by the turning of the box for positively ejecting the block from the box.

7. A concrete machine comprising a mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a pallet for closing the material-receiving side of the box, a system of clamps for holding said pallet in position, means set in operation by the operator for simultaneously throwing all of said clamps into holding position, manually controlled means for turning the box into discharging position, and power driven means set in 0peration by the turning of the box for disengaging the clamps.

8. A concrete machine comprising a mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a pallet for closing the material-receiving side of the box, a system of clamps for holding said pallet in position, means set in operation by the operator for simultaneously throwing all of said clamps into holding position, means for moving the box into discharging position, and power driven means for disengaging the clamps.

9. A. concrete machine comprising a mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a pallet for closing the material-receiving side of the box, a system of clamps for holding said pallet in position, means set in operation by the operator for simultaneously throwing all of said clamps into holding position, means for moving the box into discharging position, and power driven means for automatically disengaging the clamps and discharging the block after the box has been positioned.

l0. A concrete machine comprising a mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a pallet for closing the material-receiving side of the box, a system of clamps for holding said pallet in position, means set in operation by the operator for simultaneously throwing all of said clamps into holding position, means for moving the box into discharging position, a platform for receiving the block, and power driven means for automatically moving the platform into position to receive the block, for disengaging the clamps and for positively ejecting the block after the box has been moved into discharging position.

1l. A concrete machine comprising a mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a pallet for closing the material-receiving side of the box, a system of clamps for holding said pallet in position, means for turning the box into discharging position, a platform for receiving the block, a series of instrumentalities for moving the platform into position to receive the block, for disengaging the clamps and for positively ejecting the block, power driven means for automatically operating said instrumentalities in timed order, and means actuated by turning of the box to start said power driven means.

12. A concrete machine comprising a mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a pallet for closing the material-receiving side of the box, a system of clamps for holding said pallet in position, means for turning the box into discharging position, a platform for receiving the block,

a series of power driven instrumentalities for moving the platform into position to receive the block, for disengaging the clamps and for positively ejecting the block, means for intermittently driving said instrumentalities including a clutch, and means actuated by turning of the box to operate said clutch.

13. A concrete machine comprising a. mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a pallet for closing the lmaterial-receiving side of the box, a system of clamps for holding said pallet in position, means for turning the box into discharging position, a platform for receiving the block, a series of power driven instrumentalities for moving the platform into position to receive the block, for disengaging the clamps and for positively ejecting the block, means for intermittently driving said instrumentalities including a clutch, a lever spring-actuated to render the clutch operative, means holding the lever and clutch inoperative and a shifting device operated by turning of the box to withdraw the holding means.

14. A concrete machine comprising a mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a pallet for closing the material-receiving side of the box, a system of clamps for holding said pallet in position, means for turning the box into discharging position, a platform for receiving the block, a series of power driven instrumentalities for moving the platform into position to receive the block, for disengaging the clamps and for positively ejecting the block, means for driving said instrumentalities including a clutch and a driven shaft, a clutch shifter lever spring-actuated to render the clutch operative, means on the driven shaft and connections therefrom to hold the clutch lever in inoperative position, and a device operated by turning of the box for withdrawing the holding means.

15. A concrete machine comprising a mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a pallet for closing the material-receiving side of the box, a system of clamps for holding said pallet in position, means for turning the box into discharging position, a platform for receiving the block, a series of power driven instrumentalities for moving the platform into position to receive the block, for disengaging the clamps and for positively ejecting the block, means for driving said instrumenta-lities including a clutch and a driven shaft, a clutch shifter lever spring-actuated to render the clutch operative, means on the driven shaft and connections therefrom to hold the clutch lever in inoperative position, and a device under the control of the operator for withdrawing the holding means.

16. A concrete machine comprising a mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a pallet for closing the material-receiving side of the box, a system of clamps for holding said pallet in position, means for turning the box into discharging position, a platform for receiving the block, a series of power driven instrumentalities for moving the platform into position to receive the block, for disengaging the clamps and for positively ejecting the block, means for driving said instrumentalities including a clutch and a driven shaft, a clutch shifter lever spring-actuated to render the clutch operative, means on the driven shaft and connections therefrom to hold the clutch lever in inoperative position, and a device operated by turning of the box. for momentarily withdrawing the holding means to permit clutching action, a full rotation of the driven shaft causing the holding means to engage such connections and withdraw the clutch.

17. A concrete machine comprising a mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a pallet for closing the material-receiving side of the box, a system of clamps for holding said pallet in position, means for turning the box into discharging position, a platform for receiving the block, a series of power driven instrumentalities for moving the platform into position to receive the block, for disengaging the clamps and for positively ejecting the block, means for intermittently driving said instrumentalities, means actuated by turning of the box to start said driving means, and means thereafter operating automatically to stop the driving means when said series of operations have been completed.

18. A concrete machine comprising a mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a pallet for closing the material-receiving side of the box, sets of clamps pivotally secured to the sides of the box and adapted to be engaged over the edge of the pallet, and springs for holding said clamps .in engaging position.

19. A concrete machine comprising a mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a pallet for closing the materialreceiving side of the box, sets of clamps pivotally secured to the sides of the box and adapted to be engaged over the edge of the pallet, springs for holding said clamps in engaging position, and controlling members pivotally connected with the clamps and with the sides of the box for causing the springs either to hold the clamps in closed or in open position.

20. A concrete machine comprising a mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a pallet for closing the material-receiving side of the box, sets of clamps pivoted to the sides of the box and adapted to engage over the edges of the pallet, a foot lever and connections therefrom for simultaneously throwing the two sets of clamps into such engagement. and springs for holding the clamps in either closed or open position.

21. A concrete machine comprising a mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a pallet for closing the material-receiving side of the box, sets of clamps pivoted to the sides of the box and adapted to engage over the edges of the pallet, rock shafts and connections therefrom for operating the clamps, an arm on each rock shaft, a movable member having portions engagable with each of said arms, and a foot lever for moving the member to cause said portions to engage the arms and operate the rock shafts.

22. A concrete machine comprising a mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a pallet for closing the material-receiving side of the box, sets of clamps pivoted to the sides of the box and adapted to engage over the edges of the pallet, rock shafts and connections therefrom for operating the clamps, an arm on each rock shaft, and a vertically slidable member having engaging portions overlying the ends of said arms, a foot lever and connections therefrom to the sliding member whereby the same may be operated to engage the arms and throw in the clamps.

A concrete machine comprising a mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a pallet for closing the material-receiving side of the box, sets of clamps pivoted to the sides of the box and adapted to engage over the edges of the pallet, springs for holding said clamps in engaging position and for throwing the clamps into open position, and automatic means for swinging the clamps so as to permit springs to draw the same into open position.

24. A concrete machine comprising a mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a pallet for closing the material-receiving side of the box, sets of clamps pivoted to the sides of the box and adapted to engage over the edges of the pallet, springs for holding said clamps in engaging position and for throwing the clamps into open position, and a foot lever and connections therefrom for simultaneously throwing the sets of clamps from open into closing position.

25. A concrete machine comprising a mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a pallet for closing the material-receiving side of the box, sets of clamps pivoted to the sides of the box and adapted to engage over the edges of the pallet, springs for holding said clamps in engaging position and for throwing the clamps into open position, automatic means for swinging the clamps so as to permit springs to draw the same into open. position, and a foot lever and connections therefrom for simultaneously throwing the sets of clamps from open into closing position.

26. A concrete machine comprising a mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a pallet for closing the material-receiving side of the box, sets of clamps pivoted to the sides of the box and adapted to engage over the edges of the pallet, clamp operating members including springs for throwing the clamps into open position, an intermittently-driven shaft, a rock shaft operated thereby, and means on the rock shaft for engaging said clamp operating members to move the same into position for permitting said springs to complete unclamping action.

27. A concrete machine comprising a mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a pallet for closing the material-receiving side of the box, sets of clamps pivoted to the sides of the box and adapted to engage over the edges of the pallet, clamp operating members, an intermittently-driven shaft, means operated by said Shaft for automatically operating the clamp-operating members, and means controlled by the inverting of the mold box for effecting rotation of said shaft.

28. A concrete machine comprising a mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a pallet for closing the material-receiving side of the box, sets of clamps pivoted to the sides of the box and adapted to engage over the edges of the pallet, clamp operating members, an intermittently-driven shaft, a rock shaft operated by said shaft, and fingers on said rock shaft engageable with said clamp operating members and simultaneously actuating the same to canse opening of the clamps.

29. A concrete machine comprising an in vertible mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, a vertically moving platform, an intermittently operated shaft and connections therefrom for moving said platform from its lowered position to block-receiving position and back again, said means operated by one complete rotation of said shaft, and means controlled by the inverting of the mold box for actuating the shaft.

3G. A concrete machine comprising an invertible mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, an intermittently operated shaft, a series of oscillating, sliding levers arranged so that portions thereof may be brought into proximity with said mold box, pusher members on said portions, and connections between the levers and shaft for sliding and oscillating said levers to cause the pusher members to eject the block when the mold box is inverted.

3l. A concrete machine comprising an invertible mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, an intermittently operated shaft, a series of oscillating, sliding levers arranged so that portions thereof may be brought into proximity with said mold boX, pusher members on said portions including a yielding device, and connections between the levers and shaft for sliding and oscillating said levers to cause the pusher members to eject the block when the mold boX is inverted.

32. A concrete machine comprising a frame, means mounted on the frame for compressing concrete blocks, block receiving and discharging means, a casing centrally mounted on said frame, a constantly driven longitudinal shaft extending through said casing, a sleeve on the shaft and means operated from the sleeve for actuating the block-compressing means, a second sleeve on the co-nstantly driven shaft, means operated by the second sleeve for actuating the block receiving and ejecting mechanism, means under the control of the operator for effecting operative connection of either of said sleeves with the constantly driven shaft at will, and automatic means for terminating said connections when either of said operations is completed.

33. A concrete machine comprising an invertible mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, block releasing and receiving mechanisms, a shaft for operating said last named mechanisms, a constantly driven member, a clutch, a shifter lever spring-actuated to cause the clutch to effect driving connection between the constantly driven member and the shaft, means on the shaft engageable with said shifter lever to hold the same inoperative, and means actuated by inverting of the mold boX to withdraw said engaging means and release the clutch.

34. A concrete machine comprising an invertible mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, block releasing and receiving mechanisms, a shaft for op erating said last named mechanisms, a ccnstantly driven member, a clutch, a shifter lever spring-actuated to canse the clutch to effect driving connection between the constantly driven member and the shaft, slidable cams on said shaft engageable with the shifter lever in one position of the shaft to hold the clutch inoperative, and means actuated by inverting of the mold box to shift the cam to release the clutch.

35. A concrete machine comprising an invertible mold box and means for compressing concrete blocks therein, block releasing and receiving mechanisms, a shaft for operating said last named mechanisms, a constantly driven member, a clutch, a shifter lever spring-actuated to cause the clutch to effect driving connection between the constantiy driven member and the shaft, slidable cams on said shaft engageable with the shifter lever in one position of the shaft to hold the clutch inoperative, a rock shaft, an arm o-n said rock shaft having connection with said sliding cam, a latch device on said rock shaft, and a trip on the mold boX for engaging said latch, device when the mold boX is inverted, whereby the rock shaft is caused to slide the cam and release the clutch.

In testimony whereof affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

HEMAN A. XVLCOX. Vitnesses F, A. vWHITELEY, H. A. BOWMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

